MANILA, Philippines — “Don’t text in public, especially if you’re on duty.”?
This was the order of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director Oscar Albayalde to all police officers conducting patrol on the streets.
During his term as chief of the National Capital Regional Police Office, Albayalde dismissed and suspended officers who committed illegal acts.
Now that he’s PNP chief, the public expects him to expand the internal cleansing of the police force on a nationwide scale.
“We will address everything including those officers who disrespect citizens, engage in extortion, texting while patrolling and not using helmet,” Albayalde said, adding the minimum penalty for violators is suspension from the police service.
He said even minor offenses will be looked into.
“The question is, if these were minor offenses, why can’t the officers abide with the law? Like when we enforce the mandatory use of helmets, and yet our officers do not wear helmets,” he asked.
When he was NCRPO chief, Albayalde dismissed 279 police officers, suspended 829 others and demoted 99 more within 21 months from July 2016 to April 15 this year.
“During my term, I ordered the transfer of 365 police officers from NCRPO to Mindanao. I keep these figures in my mind, including the 1,750 officers that I ordered charged for various offenses,” he said.?
Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge Eduardo Año earlier ordered Albayalde to expand nationwide the PNP internal cleansing program, which was said to be have proven successful in Metro Manila.?
Año said Albayalde should continue the program started by former PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa, particularly the PNP Patrol Plan 2020 or the peace and order agenda for transformation and upholding of the rule of law.?
Año backed the surprise inspection of police stations conducted by Albayalde when he was NCRPO chief. Several police officers were caught sleeping while on duty.
“We are confident that under Albayalde’s leadership, the PNP can deliver President Duterte’s promise to eradicate illegal drugs, crimes and corruption,” Año said.
Meanwhile, the PNP is seeking President Duterte’s help in checking why a suspected drug lord, who was arrested several times in the past, managed to post bail twice despite the large amount of drugs seized from him.
This after authorities yesterday seized a kilo of shabu with an estimated street value of P5 million from a condominium unit in Muntinlupa City.
The unit was reportedly occupied by suspected drug lord Li Hong Peng, who was said to be the leader of a drug group named after him. The suspect was not in the area during the raid.